Kats claw their way to 4-0
<p>Winter Kemppainen with a shot against Flathead’s Taryn Gutierez (44) and Tiana Johnson.</p>
The Columbia Falls girls basketball team went 3-0 the past week.
The Wildkats beat Class AA Flathead 50-37 at home on Dec. 13 and then handled its southern competition in the Northwest-Southwest Tip-Off tournament in Missoula, dropping Dillon 46-38 and Stevensville 55-9.
The Flathead game was closer than the score would suggest. The young Bravettes team hung with the Kats through three quarters, as the Kats had a tough time getting a ball through the net until late in the game.
Peyton Kehr came off the bench to spark the Kats with seven points. Winter Kemppainen led the Kats with 14.
Against Dillon, Miranda Livingston had her best game of the season, scoring 13 points.
Coach Cary Finberg said it was good to see the two girls come off the bench and have solid games. Overall, the team isn’t shooting the ball like it’s capable of, but the defense is keeping games close.
“It will get better as the season goes on,” he said.
In the Stevensville game, the girls were led by Ciera Finberg with 12 and Kemppainen with 14.
The Kats are now 4-0 for the season. They face Frenchtown in a key conference game this Saturday at home. Game time is 5:30 p.m. Frenchtown is coming off a 39-33 win over Corvallis.
Flathead 8 9 8 12 — 37
Columbia Falls 8 14 9 19 — 50
FLATHEAD — Stephanie Wilson 3 0-0 7, Kelsey Gillespie 2 0-0 6, Mary Heaton 1 0-0 3, Lauren Clark 1 0-0 3, Tiana Johnson 2 0-0 4, Jessica Simmons 3 0-0 7, Taryn Gutierez 3 1-2 7. Totals: 15 1-2 37.
C FALLS — Summer Burlage 2 0-0 6, Ciera Finberg 1 2-4 4, Sydney Grilley 2 0-0 4, Cydney Finberg 1 0-0 2, Ellie Johnson 1 1-4 3, Peyton Kehr 3 0-0 7, Winter Kemppainen 5 4-9 14, Miranda Livingston 1 0-0 2, Kiara Burlage 1 6-8 8. Totals: 17 13-25 50.
Dillon 2 11 8 17 — 38
Columbia Falls 9 9 7 20 — 45
DILLON – Alex Rouse 5, Audrey Schurg 8, Rachel Nye 3, Bailey Berriochoa 5, Cierra Lamey 17.
C FALLS – Ciera Finberg 8, Cydney Finberg 9, Ellie Johnson 4, Winter Kemppainen 7, Miranda Livingston 13, Kiara Burlage 4.
Stevensville 1 4 2 2 — 9
Columbia Falls 30 17 5 3 — 55
STEVENSVILLE — Mariah Hinson 3, Daye Miller 2, Payton Tillotson 4.
C FALLS — Summer Burlage 7, Ciera Finberg 12, Sydney Grilley 3, Cydney Finberg 3, Ellie Johnson 4, Peyton Kehr 2, Winter Kemppainen 14, Miranda Livingston 2, Kiara Burlage 3, Allyson Gimbel 3, Sydney Houde 2.